What is Organic?

organic fruits and vegetables

“Organic” is a popular buzzword used to signal healthier and more natural options.  However, this isn’t always the case.  Let’s look at what the word “organic” really means, the different contexts it can be used in, and if you should really be buying organic products or not.

What Does “Organic” Mean?

The word “organic” comes from the root word “organ” with the suffix “ic” which means to be related to or derived from.

An organ is a system composed of two or more different tissues in a living creature.  A tissue is a group of cells that perform the same task.  For example, your heart is an organ, but so are the roots of a tree.  Every part of every multi-celled organism is also part of an organ.

Single-celled organisms do not have organs since they do not have multiple tissues.  Instead they have organelles.  Organelles are functionally like organs but much smaller since they are contained within a single cell.

Now, you might say that single-celled organisms are not organic since they have no organs, but I would argue that organelles are a suitable stand-in for organs.  Therefore, I believe that all organisms (as well as non-living substances derived from the organisms) can be considered to be organic.

Using the decomposition of the word “organic” and making the assumption that organs and organelles are fundamentally the same, I’ve arrived at the following definition:

Organic : Relating to or derived from living organisms

Of course, such a broad definition is not always useful for classifying foods, soils, molecules, and other organic compounds.  This is why the context of the word is just as important as the word itself.

Organic Chemistry

Organic chemistry is the study of covalently bonded compounds containing carbon (excluding carbonates and oxides).  

Carbonates are carbon containing minerals such as the main components in marble – CaCO₃ (Calcite) and CaMg(CO₃)₂ (Dolomite).  These minerals are part of the very much inorganic rock cycle and are therefore excluded.  

Oxides are considered inorganic even though some can be produced organically such as CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide) through animal breathing.  All oxides can also be produced inorganically by natural processes such as volcano eruptions.  

What’s left is all the diverse carbon structures that can only be produced by life.

Again we get the same definition:

Organic : Relating to or derived from living organisms.

Organic Food

Using the definition above, all food items derived from any plant, animal, or fungal matter could be considered organic.  However, the term “organic” used in reference to food generally has more connotations.

Certified organic food is produced using less synthetic fertilizers, less synthetic pesticides, and no genetic modifications.  Notice that they use less synthetic chemicals not none.  It can sometimes even limit the amount of organic fertilizers used!  The exact amounts of different substances that can be used in the production of organic food will depend on the specific regulations in the country in which the food is produced.

In Canada’s general principles and management standards for organic production systems it is stated: “Neither this standard nor organic products produced in accordance with this standard represent specific claims about the healthiness, safety and nutrition of such organic products.”

In Canada, the labeling of organic food is regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

canada certified organic logo

To use the Organic Canada logo on the packaging of a product it must contain at least 95% certified organic ingredients.

Some things that are prohibited in the production of Organic Canada food are:

  • Genetic Engineering
  • Nanotechnology
  • Irradation
  • Cloning
  • Biosolids

Synthetic pesticides and fungicides are regulated but not prohibited.

And only 95% of the ingredients need to follow these rules!

Of course having these limitations in place can help avoid some damaging practices, but beneficial practices such as the use of biosolids, GMOs and irradation are also being banned.  

Biosolids are made from treated human waste which makes them organic by definition.  If we don’t use our waste to feed the plants that will produce our next meal, what are we doing with it?  Saving it for later?  Biosolids have been shown to be safe and increase crop yields so organic food labeling boards are actually preventing a sustainable, organic practice by banning them.

GMOs (genetically modified organisms) have the potential to eliminate the need for synthetic fertilizers while increasing food production in droughts and other unfavorable conditions.

Irradation is a process in which radiation is used to kill disease inflicting bacteria such as salmonella and E. Coli and has been shown to increase food safety.

At first glance, it may seem “gross” or “scary”, but the overwhelming evidence shows that the food produced using these practices is safe for consumption.

All restrictions considered, certified organic food takes more land to grow than conventionally grown food.

The meaning of the term organic is lost in these subjective restrictions.  Organic becomes a legal term used for marketing purposes.

Certified Organic: Mostly organic substance produced with limited inorganic substances.

Certified organic food is not healthier, safer, or more sustainable than conventionally grown food.

The healthiest, safest, and most sustainable diet is one containing a high amount of locally produced fruits, vegetables, and pulses (organic or not).

You can read more about the guidelines for Certified Organic food production in Canada HERE.

Organic Soil

Most soils are made up of 6 components:

  • Silt
  • Clay
  • Sand
  • Organic matter
  • Water
  • Air

Silt, clay, and sand are inorganic minerals with different properties that will determine how your soil behaves and what plants will grow in it. Different plants will like different ratios of these 3 components.

Organic matter is all the decomposed (or decomposing) plants and animals in the soil. Most soils are made up of only about 5% organic matter. This may not seem like a lot, but it is more than enough for healthy plants to grow.

Never try to grow plants in pure plant compost or manure. The plants still need the other components of soil and will die in pure organic matter. Rather, your should simply mix compost into heavily depleted soils.

Organic Fertilizers

Fertilizers are substances that are added to soil to increase its fertility (or productiveness).

Many fertilizers (organic or not) achieve this by directly adding nutrients like Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium to the soil.

The downside of many organic fertilizers is that many have low amounts of Phosphorus. However, there are still some Phosphorus rich organic options such as Guano (bat poop) and Bone Meal.  There are also inorganic options like Rock Dust Phosphates.  

In the case of nutrient-based fertilizers (specifically Phosphate) it appears to me that it might actually be better to use inorganic sources simply for the ethical issues related to the use of animal products. Plus, rock dust may be inorganic but it is still natural.

That being said, not all fertilizers increase fertility simply by adding nutrients to the soil.  Organic fertilizers like ROOT RESCUE TRANSPLANTER MS-CS increase fertility by adding living organisms to the soil.  

These mycorrhizal fungi do not add any nutrients, but rather form a symbiotic relationship with plants in which they break down compounds already present in the soil to make nutrients more biologically available to the plant.  In exchange for nutrients like Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium, the plants provide the fungi with Carbon increasing the amount of Carbon stored in the soil and increasing the potential for plants to be used as Carbon Sinks.  

The best part about fertilizers containing mycorrhizal fungi is that, once the fungi are established, they will reproduce naturally eliminating the need to continue adding more each growing season.

Organic Herbicides, Fungicides, Insecticides, and Pesticides

There are many organic pest repellents such as chili powder or lemon juice, but when someone is talking about herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, or pesticides, they usually don’t just want to repel the pests.

Think of other words that end in “icide”.

Did anyone find “homicide” or “suicide”?

That’s right, words ending in “icide” means to kill.

Now, I believe all living things have the right to live, but I can also understand not wanting certain plants or animals in your garden, lawn, or agricultural plot.

However, I think there are better ways to get rid of pests than using chemicals to kill them.

The best organic herbicide is you.  Pull the plants you don’t like by hand.  This obviously doesn’t work on larger scales but you can easily maintain a small garden by yourself or find a local gardener who will.  

Some weeds can be used in the kitchen.  For example you can use dandelions to make dandelion wine and dandelion honey.  Anything that you can’t find a use for can usually be added to your compost pile.

Another organic option for weed control is a couple Goats or other ruminant animals.  They will also provide you with free organic fertilizer in the form of manure.  Of course it might be difficult to stop them from eating your other plants so this method might work best in areas like orchards where you aren’t growing any small herbaceous plants.

Other animals like Chickens are great at eating unwanted insects and, like Goats, they will provide you with rich organic fertilizer.

Mice can be controlled by installing nesting boxes around your property to attract Barn Owls.

Snakes are repelled by the smell of Marsh Marigolds.

Larger pests like Deer and Wolves can often be scared away by having a Dog who spends a lot of time marking their territory in your garden or field.

Every pest or weed you can think of can be managed by introducing another plant or animal to the garden.

Having a wide diversity of crops will also protect you from having your entire harvest destroyed by pests or diseases.

A well managed, biologically diverse plot is the most sustainable and least damaging pest management system.

What other organic things did I miss?  Let me know in the comments below!  If you are a farmer, I’d also love to hear if you are Certified Organic or not and what you think about government regulated organic food.

Thanks for reading!

Scott Carroll

Carroll Property Services

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